18th in lockdown

[flamingo40]

As lockdown had now been extended we will be celebrating my sons 18th just the four of us.
He's had a really rough few years with his mental health and was looking forward for celebrating his birthday for the first time in years with family and friends.
While we are grateful we are healthy I'm a little sad for him.
Lockdown for us has made us realise how close we are and how much we've enjoyed all being together. (Most the time)

I'm after ideas to help make his day extra special.
Decorations are ordered, he's requested certain food for the day and asked us to bake a cake.
I've also asked family and friends to record birthday wishes to send for him.
Can anyone suggest any ideas to add?

[Andpiglettoo]

We did an 18th in lockdown. Surprise Zoom party - I’m pretty sure she wasn’t expecting it. Loosely themed fancy dress. Family and friends. Family only stayed on for a short time and then left the friends to get on with it.

You can do the cake, sing Happy Birthday and show a few baby / funny photos.

Got the newspaper too. It worked really well and will be memorable in a different way.

Neighbours would probably help with banners, messages etc if you can get a teen out for a walk.

Take photos, screenshots of the zoom as well so they have the memories.

[LuckyAmy1986]

I don’t have an issue with saying it’s the worst when it actually IS

[LuckyAmy1986]

Yes because 18th would be among the worst......

[PumpkinP]

Yeah so then it was actually pp who started with the “who had it worst” and you’ve literally just told me you hate when people complain they have it worse ok.....

[Cinderbelly]

We were talking about this the other day as it’s likely DS 13th birthday will be in lockdown (I know he’s younger and 13 is not as big a deal as 18 but maybe some of these ideas will help you...
We have ordered a projector and screen, will watch a DVD outside with pillows and blankets etc,
Ask family members to record birthday messages for the day.
Popcorn kernels to make popcorn
We are going to make some happy birthday notices and cabletie them lampposts the night before to spot on our daily family walk.

If it was his 18th I’d be tempted to make a (simple) lockdown birthday cocktail with him and turn that into a birthday tradition

[LuckyAmy1986]

Oh and it was actually a pp who said it was worse when it’s an 18th so that is saying you have it worse

I’m aware, and I agree with that PP that an 18th would be amongst the worst birthday you can have during this.

Then you said but any birthday would be bad. So annoying.

[PumpkinP]

WASNT me*

[PumpkinP]

Oh and it was actually a pp who said it was worse when it’s an 18th so that is saying you have it worse, it was me who started the who has it worst comment my first comment was merely expressing my sympathy at going through the same thing but I won’t bother in future

[PumpkinP]

Oh ffs, I was sympathising with the op on how shit it is not saying I had it worst!! I was sympathising saying lock down birthdays are shit, God lock down is really getting to people isn’t it, so many argumentative people around recently.

[LuckyAmy1986]

True, but any birthday in lock down is shit

Yes but 18th is worse for obvious reasons!!!!

Hate this shit, when people can’t just acknowledge it’s worse.

Like when you say you lost your mum as a young teenager and how hard it was and how much you’ve missed out on. Then you get “well losing your mum is hard at any age”. Fuck. Off.

Sorry OP.

[flamingo40]

The newspaper idea is great. Particularly in these times. Something to look back on with his children

[BackforGood]

I like the newspaper idea too - I suspect when he gets to 40 or 50 ish and starts being interested in a bit or reminiscing, newspapers won't exist any longer.

I also like the idea of getting the neighbours out to sing Happy Birthday. I'd certainly do that for a neighbour in these times - something that is different and positive about these odd times, to counter balance the bad things.

[flamingo40]

Absolutely love some of these ideas thank you

[PumpkinP]

I like that idea FoolsLemonTree I think that’s a really good one!

[FoolsLemonTree]

This might be a daft idea, but would it be worth buying a newspaper on his actual birthday, and keeping it safe so in future years he has a sort of memento of what the world was like on his 18th? As you say, it's a memorable birthday because of the context as well as being 18th!

[Thekindyoufindinasecondhand]

It's really thoughtful that you want to make a special effort for his 18th! If he likes a certain alcoholic drink you could get hold of some of his drink of choice, turning 18 and being able to have your first legal drink is always important! Make a meal with his favourite food, or do a theme - what was his favourite food as a child? Try and base something around that for a laugh! If possible collect some pictures from when he was little and do a slideshow, he may hate all of these ideas but it's all I can think I would of enjoyed on my 18th!

[MilkNoSugars]

A new family (board) game to play together?
Special breakfast- my DS requested pancakes.
A delivery of Hettys Kitchen brownies- I was sent some recently, these are the best brownies I have ever tasted!
Zoom/ house party with friends.
Make a collage/ display of pictures of him from birth to now in a nice frame.
Nice walk, somewhere you don't usually go.
Big effort dinner.

[flamingo40]

Unprecedented I'm coming up to a big birthday too one which I should be in Rome.
I'm
Just going to celebrate later. One big celebration for both of us.
It'll certainly be birthdays we will never forget won't it

[Unprecedentedusername]

I had a very significant bday during lockdown. It was the hardest and most upsetting day of the whole thing. Everyone trying to act “normal” and be jolly. People you haven’t heard from in years crawling out of the woodwork. I said I wanted to postpone it and will celebrate at a favourite venue when lockdown is over. I was relieved when it was over. I would do something special on the day but make it clear that the real celebration is at a point in the future. A bit like Trooping the Colour!

[Breathmiller]

Have you tried Housparty? Its a fun way to play games together too. They have quizzes and pictionary. We did it with my adult children for Mothers day and it was fun.
I hope your family have a wonderful day.

[flamingo40]

Thank you. I hope your ivalue
I hope your son enjoys his day too

[Ivalueloyaltyaboveallelse]

Nice idea OP. Sounds like you’ve got it sorted.

[flamingo40]

Lovely ideas thank you
I'm sure the neighbours will join in
I'm going to show him the recorded messages from family in the morning, then hopefully do a zoom party with them in the evening with his birthday cake.
That way they can all sing happy birthday
Together

[TheSmallAssassin]

We had a Zoom party and disco for a big birthday in lockdown, it worked really well. Message me if you want some tips.

[Hercwasonaroll]

Ask your neighbours to sing happy birthday at a social distance.